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I didn't want to jump into this but these added facts need to be presented. Crick, as far as the 2012 - 2015 pay freezes that the mayor did such a great job negotiating, lets look at some facts pertinent to the WFD that have not been presented here to date. These numbers are from APRA requests that I received from the city.

During the "pay freeze period" overtime as follows:

$3,236,011

$2,045,854,

$1,544,701

I also have the 3 year base salary and end of year salaries for the WFD for those 3 years. With exception to men out on long term injury, every man on the job saw an increase in pay. A substantial increase in pay. Basically, every man received a promotion, so the salary increases were hidden by the promotion and overtime was carefully contrived and abused.

Lets also not forget that in 2014 the WFD also received a 3.1 million dollar grant to train 22 more firefighters. Of that 3.1 million, 1.3 million was salary, 1.8 million was benefits.

In fact, for example, I have the 3 years of W2 forms for the following men:

Francis Colantonio, Thomas Maymon, and James Jordan

The increase in salary for just these 3 men during the "PAY FREEZE PERIOD" was $238,180

Colantonio had a salary increase from $99,074 - $124,276 and received an additional $66,895 in overtime.

Jordan had an increase in salary from $86,983 - $116,734 and received an additional $82,433 in overtime.

Maymon had an increase in salary from $87,734 - $138,575 and received an additional $88,849 in overtime.

Unfortunaltely the documents sent to me are in PDF so I cant cut and paste them onto this site, but rest assured, I have them and I am willing to make copies to give to anyone who wants them.

Also very important to note. The increase in the unused sick pay by 50% for the WFD resulted in, on average, an 8.2% raise from the previous year (2015) and those payments increased each year as the WFD salary increased thru the 9% raise that they got over the 3 years. So in essence, the men on the unused sick pay bonus list received 24.6% increase over 3 years in addition to the 9% contract raise. Not a bad deal.

I would also like to point out that last April when the city actuary Joe Newton from Gabriel Roder came to address the city council he was asked by councilman Merolla the following: "based upon your assessment of the city finances and our position with pensions and benefits, when if any, will there be a time when we have past the point of no return".

Joe Newton answer - "that was about 5 years ago".

This was a remarkable revelation to several of us, who are not beneficiaries of the mayors extremely generous method of keeping labor peace. In addition, Newton was asked the following: If this city's fiscal management was a business model, would you approve of it. His answer - "I would run out of town". I will search and get the audio link and post it.

So although I think that Corrente is an unadulterated fool and fiscal mess, I certainly, based upon the facts that I have uncovered through APRA requests, would not label Scott Avedisian as fiscally accountable or acting in the best interest of the residents of Warwick. Remember, he is a politician who would sell his mothers womb for a vote.